Brussels hosts showcase of Georgia’s ancient wine heritage PHOTO

The “Georgian Natural Wine Day” festival was held in the Belgian capital, bringing together wine professionals, importers, media representatives, and hospitality industry stakeholders to explore Georgia’s rich winemaking heritage and contemporary wine sector.

According to Georgia’s National Wine Agency, the event was organized by FLOW SRL with the agency’s support as part of ongoing efforts to promote Georgian wine in key international markets and create new export opportunities, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

The festival featured wines of various appellations produced by six Georgian wine and spirits producers, offering visitors an opportunity to discover the diversity and unique characteristics of the country’s wine industry.

Officials noted that promoting Georgian wine in strategic markets remains a priority for the Georgian government. In 2025, the National Wine Agency allocated 17.4 million lari for marketing activities, representing an increase of 8.7 percent compared with the previous year.

Participants at the event were introduced to the history, traditions, culture, and modern development of Georgian winemaking, which is widely regarded as one of the oldest continuous wine traditions in the world.

According to the agency, participation in international events of this kind serves as an effective mechanism for increasing awareness of Georgian wine across European markets and establishing new commercial partnerships.

The promotion of Georgian wine abroad remains one of the National Wine Agency’s core objectives. Since 2013, the agency has conducted targeted marketing and advertising campaigns in the United States, Europe, and Asia as part of a broader strategy aimed at diversifying export destinations and expanding the global presence of Georgian wine.

Georgia’s winemaking history spans approximately 8,000 years and occupies a unique place in the country’s cultural identity. Images of wine and grapevines feature prominently in Georgian folk art, as well as in monuments of both spiritual and material heritage.

Today, hundreds of grape varieties are cultivated throughout Georgia. Around 500 of the approximately 4,000 grape varieties known worldwide are believed to originate from the country.

In recognition of this ancient tradition, UNESCO in 2013 inscribed Georgia’s traditional qvevri winemaking method on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The technique involves fermenting and aging wine in large clay vessels buried underground, a practice that has been preserved for centuries.

By Vafa Guliyeva